Lively Mazu Temple
In Taiwan, the Tianhou Temple is sometimes called Mazu Temple. Luo Dayou's famous song "Lugang Town" is written in the song "people who burn incense behind Mazu Temple." In my impression, Mazu Temple has always been crowded with people, especially around the Spring Festival, which is simply crowded.
When we were young, we would go to Mazu Temple to worship and ask for peace. Mazu is the sea god, protecting the peace of the sea people, and is a folk belief that originated in southern Fujian. Taiwan is near the sea, and Lugang Town is an important harbor. Its belief in Mazu has always been an enduring tradition.
Today, Mazu Temple is still one of the most famous temples in Lugang Town, very lively.
Mazu Temple is famous, and the snacks around Mazu Temple are even more lingering! The top three in my mind are oyster omelettes, beef tongue cakes, and phoenix eye cakes!
In Taiwan, people do not speak oyster omelettes in Mandarin, but speak oyster omelettes in Minnan dialect, so remember to say it in Minnan dialect when eating oyster omelettes in Taiwan!
Beef tongue cake is also a more famous traditional snack in Lugang. Although Yilan also has beef tongue cakes, the taste is different - the beef tongue cakes in Lugang Town are thicker and taste sweeter, while the beef tongue cakes in Yilan are thinner and crisper. I personally prefer the taste of Lugang Town.
Phoenix Eye Cake is a tea and refreshment that was made by literati and scholars in the early years when they recite poems and wrote pairs. It is shaped like a beautiful phoenix eye, hence the name. When eating, you can only pick it up with two fingers, otherwise it will be easy to crush.
Elegant and solemn Longshan Temple
Lugang’s most famous temples, one is Mazu Temple and the other is Longshan Temple.
I prefer Longshan Temple than Mazu Temple because it is not as merciful and lively as Mazu Temple - among the crowded crowds, people always feel that the solemnity and sacredness of the temple are missing.
If you are interested in the historical monuments in Taiwan, you must come to Longshan Temple.
Longshan Temple has a history of more than 200 years and is known as the "Forbidden City of Taiwan". Its architectural layout is relatively magnificent and elegant, and its structure is more refined. The wood carvings of Longshan Temple are the best in Taiwan. Although they have been repaired many times, they are all made by the best-skilled wood carving masters, trying their best to reproduce the original appearance of the monument.
When you go to Longshan Temple, you must go to see the Bagua Cadale at the entrance! The caisson has a total of 8864 layers, and is carved very exquisitely and beautifully.
This was originally the stage in front of the temple gate. Now, every weekend and holiday, some older locals will perform traditional national music. The caisson was designed with physical refraction of sound, and the effect was very good during the performance, which was worth watching.
Every weekend, students from Lugang High School will come to do charity guides. If you have the opportunity to come to Longshan Temple, you can chat with these students and listen to them tell the stories behind these carved beams, painted pillars and historical monuments - those wonderful pasts can never be finished in three days and three nights!
After visiting Longshan Temple, you can see the very famous "Laolongshi Meat Bun" when you come out from the side door! Personally highly recommended! !
This is an old photo from about 30 years ago - at that time, there were already long queues in this store!
store sells very authentic Taiwanese meat buns. I only have one sentence to comment -
is very delicious!
doesn’t describe it anymore. Only by trying it yourself can you know how delicious it is!
Jiuqu Lane, which is also sunny in winter,
because Lugang is close to the sea, and the wind will be very strong after winter, which makes people feel very uncomfortable. Therefore, when building roads, it is deliberately built to be winding, and "Jiuqu Lane" is therefore named. Every winter when the monsoon roars, as soon as you walk into Jiuqu Lane, you will feel as sunny as spring!
Alley is not big, but because there were not as many cars as it is now more than fifty years ago, it is enough for everyone to live a daily life.
There is "Shiyi Tower" in Jiuqu Lane, which is the place where early literati and elegant guests gather. The so-called "ten suitable" means that it is suitable for piano, chess, poetry, wine, painting, flowers, moon, beauty, smoke, and tea.
Lugang was a major center in Taiwan in his early years. Although it was mainly engaged in business, it was also very exciting in terms of cultural development. Literature and scholars and high-ranking families gathered, such as the well-known Gu family and Shi family in Taiwan, who all made their fortunes in Lugang.
The famous "Mi Lu Lane" is also near Jiuqu Lane.
Because this alley is too narrow, the narrowest place is only 70 cm, so the person you meet will definitely have physical contact. You may encounter places you shouldn't touch, and the scene will be a bit awkward. Therefore, this alley is also known as "Gentleman's Alley" and "Breast Protection Alley", but the most widely circulated name is the name "Breast Touching Alley". Near Jiuqu Lane, there is also the No. 1 market in Lugang - this is also a gathering place for snacks and food in Lugang.
Noodle paste, crystal glue, oyster omelet, meat dumpling, winter home duck, pig blood noodles, beef tripe soup, vegetable cake, oyster fried, roasted pork, taro balls... You can eat all the delicious Lugang snacks in one place!
My personal recommendation is this "earthworm Longshan noodle paste" -
noodle paste is an authentic traditional snack in Lugang. The noodle texture of this restaurant is Q, slick and fragrant. If you come to Lugang, you must not miss it!
In Lugang, most of the noodle threads are handmade, and the unique "Nine Winds" in Lugang in winter are naturally dried, so the taste is fragrant and Q, and there is no plasticizer or the like!
After eating the fresh and smooth noodles, you can also visit the factory where the noodles are made by hand to see how such delicious noodles are made!
The yesterday and today of the town
There is a saying in Taiwan, called "One Mansion, Two Deer, Three Monopoly", which refers to the three major ports of Taiwan Island during the Qing Dynasty. Among them, "Er Lu" refers to the Lugang Town in Changhua County.
Speaking of Changhua, many people may not know much about this place, but when it comes to the movie "The Girl We Chased Together in Those Years", everyone should be very familiar with it. Jingcheng Middle School in the movie and the hometown of the author Jiubadao are all in Changhua County.
To the west of Changhua County is the Taiwan Strait. There is Dajia River flowing through Lugang Town, which is also the estuary of the largest stream in Taiwan - Zhuoshui River. In the early years, because this was a port and it had to trade with Fujian, Quanzhou and other places, it gradually flourished with the development of trade and once became the second largest sea transportation city in Taiwan.
(The red block in the left picture is Changhua County, and the red block in the right picture is Lugang Town)
Later, due to the flooding of Zhuoshui Creek and the siltation of the port road, Lugang gradually declined while other port cities in Taiwan were developing rapidly. The port of the town is gradually silted into vegetable gardens, and the town of Lugang has also begun to become a symbol of nostalgia and local culture.
era is moving forward like a flying move. On the one hand, people are eager for the various benefits brought by development, and on the other hand, people miss the simplicity and beautiful traditional beliefs and values in the old era. Just as Luo Dayou sang in "Lugang Town":
I heard that they poached the red bricks from their hometown/built cement walls
The people in their hometown get what they want/but lost the
The red brick wall and the cement wall represent two different eras and two different cultures. Where should Lugang Town go today? Anyway, I just hope she can continue to be beautiful as always...
